Members of the Notre Dame family have made a generous gift to the University to establish the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Scholarship as part of the Fighting Irish Initiative for student aid. Named in honor of the baseball icon who overcame racism and bigotry throughout his career, the scholarship will be awarded to under-represented, socioeconomically disadvantaged students at the University.

After receiving feedback from students and others on campus, Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar, Modern Market and a coffeehouse featuring Intelligentsia coffee have been selected as the inaugural dining options for the new Duncan Student Center.

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, signed the “It’s On Us” pledge Thursday (Oct. 27) in a ceremony in his office. He was joined by Becca Blais and Grace Watkins, the student government vice president and University policy liaison, respectively.

Jimmy and Susan Dunne of New York City and Jay and Mary Flaherty of Los Angeles have each made $20 million gifts to the University of Notre Dame for the construction of two new residence halls on campus. Dunne Hall for men and Flaherty Hall for women will open this August for the 2016 fall semester.

More than 90 percent of students at the University of Notre Dame are familiar with and understand the University’s sexual misconduct and sexual assault policy, but 6 percent of women and 2 percent of men report they have personally experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse, and 19 percent of women and 4 percent of men experienced other forms of non-consensual sexual contact. Those are among the results of the Sexual Conduct and Campus Climate Questionnaire administered last year by Notre Dame. All enrolled students were invited to participate in the survey, and 38 percent responded.

University of Notre Dame graduate Sean Cullinan and his wife, Sue, from Glenn Ridge, New Jersey, have made a $20 million gift to his alma mater to fund a groundbreaking program that will make a Notre Dame education a reality for students from households with incomes of less than $50,000.

The Fighting Irish Initiative will fully fund the cost for low-income students to attend Notre Dame — including tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation and personal expenses. At the same time, the initiative will create a comprehensive enrichment program that will help these students get the most from their Notre Dame experience.

Rectors at the University of Notre Dame play a pivotal role in cultivating the seamless integration of student life from classrooms to residence halls. They lead the residential communities that are a distinctive component of a Notre Dame undergraduate education and lie at the heart of students’ personal development and formation.

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, has expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Lisa Yang, a Notre Dame senior who passed away Tuesday (March 3) at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

“At the same time that we mourn the passing of Father Hesburgh, we grieve for Lisa and her family,” Father Jenkins said. “I ask all members of our community to keep her family and friends in their prayers.”